Regina:
She couldn't help but to feel a tweak of irritation as Henry continued to ramble on through dinner about his afternoon with 'Sheriff Emma'. It wasn't that she was unhappy that Henry had enjoyed himself because she wasn't, of course she wasn't...but there was something about that woman that simply bothered her. She didn't know if it was the way there always seemed to be a small twinkle of defiance in The Sheriff's' eyes when Regina gave her an order or if it was simply that the woman was new to the small town and, therefore, foreign. Whatever the reason she was more than ready to stop hearing about her. So she was quite annoyed when the blonde showed up on her large front step the next morning.
"Ms. Swan, can I help you?"
"Um, I'm here for Henry?" The statement came out more as a question as the blonde's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "He didn't tell you? He asked me to take him to school so he could ask me some more questions."
"No. He didn't."
She pursed her lips, annoyed, preparing to question her more thoroughly when Henry called from upstairs, "Is that Emma?"
They exchanged glances for a moment, Regina contemplated whether to let the sheriff wait on the porch, let her in before stiffly or quickly and thoroughly tear her apart so she went skittering back to the station with her tail between her legs. But finally Regina settled on civility and took a step back, opening the door for the woman, "Come in. I guess."
"Hey Henry!" Emma grinned, cock and bellowed up the stairs.
"Sheriff!" Regina chided, covering the ear closest to the woman, "Do you mind? This is a house not a stable nor is it the typical hostels you are used to."
Emma just gave her a quick up and down, "You're grumpy in the morning."
"Excuse me?"
"I said, you're grumpy in the morning. I dunno why, but I thought you would be a morning person."
"Ms. Swan –" about to inform the little pest exactly where she could put her thoughts about her when Emma cut her off.
"Emma." Regina's eyes narrow infinitesimally. "I've told you before."
"Ms. Swan!"
"He up here?" Emma asked cutting across her yet again and didn't waiting for an answer before starting up the stairs.
Regina followed quickly overtaking her, affronted to this woman's behavior in the house of a stranger. Who had raised this woman? Wolves? As a matter of fact, she was so affronted that she didn't notice the miniature blue Converse shoe resting in wait on the step before her.
"Look out!" Emma cried, as Regina's long heel caught the toe of the shoe and she stumbled.
She had just long enough to think, panicked, oh no, I'm falling before she was stable.
For a moment, the woman blinked unsure how she had gotten into the strong arms now holding her. A chill of something warm slid down her spine as she cleared her throat. The sheriff, ever the hero apparently, had caught her. She straightened quickly and smoothed her navy pencil skirt, "Thank you, Ms. Swan."
"Emma."
"Thank you, Emma." She snapped, picked up the shoe and rounded the corner into Henry's room, "How many times have I asked you not to leave your shoes on the stairs? Someone could get hurt."
"Sorry mom." He smiled guiltily, flashing his best puppy dog eyes. The sight forced a large smile to bloom over her face and she kissed his forehead, fondness churning in her stomach. "Don't forget to come to my office after school today."
"Yes mom." He rolled his eyes exasperated with her almost daily reminder. She kissed his head again and noticed The Sheriff watching her, a small smile playing at her lips.
"What?" She asked as Henry began to clunk noisily down the stairs.
"Nothing, I just don't think I've seen you - smile before. It's nice."
A faint hush of warmth spread through her cheeks and for once Regina didn't know what to say.
Once Henry has his apparent new best friend were gone she readied herself for the day and headed toward the office – or at least she would have liked to but upon pulling onto Main she discovered a long line of frustrated and honking drivers waiting; the main stop light, normally bright, was dark in its socket.
She tapped her nails impatiently on the steering wheel as people tried to figure out whose turn it was to drive through the dead light, stopping and starting and apologizing.
"Idiots!"
This was beyond ridiculous. Where was that Sheriff? Surely she had dropped her son at school by now. It was not as though they had far to go!
A flair of yellow caught her eye in her rearview mirror and she saw that that death trap the sheriff drove parked in front of Granny's Dinner. A ball of fire grew in the pit of her. The thing looked as though it would smell of gasoline and marijuana inside and she would not be at all surprised if she learned that it stalled and backfired. She and Henry had walked this morning, right? Hmm, she would have to be sure she was clear with the sheriff that her son was never and would never be allowed in that joke of an automobile.
She pulled into a parking spot in front of the diner, still grumbling and made her way inside, heels clicking angrily as she went. She threw open the door and a yelp of shock escaped her as a fury of blonde curls ran into her.
"Regina!" The sheriff yelped in surprise, steadying herself by grasping the woman's elbows, hard.
"That is Madam Mayor or Mayor Mills to you, Ms. Swan! You impertinence is both stunning and baffling! I am beginning to wonder, were you dropped on your head as a child?"
"Emma."
A twinge of annoyance went through Regina as the sheriff pointedly ignored her jibes. Then she noticed the fatty confectionary in Emma's hand and rolled her eyes, "This is what you're doing? Again?"
"Eating breakfast? It's true that I like to do it every day." The Sheriff snarked.
"The light on Main is out and instead of doing your job and helping traffic flow, you're here at Granny's stocking chasing morning sugar rush. Just how incompetent are you, Ms. Swan? Is this what I pay you for? Getting fat on grease and sugar?"
"I am not fat!" Emma snapped loud enough to startle them both; a hand sliding defiantly down her flat stomach.
She hadn't meant that. That had been very rude and besides, the blonde was many things but fat she was not. Regina shook her head to clear it, "Ms. Swan, should I call your deputy to do both his job and yours?"
Emma glared, clearly still furious about the getting fat comment. "Really? I'm on my way there now. I already have someone looking into why the light is out this morning. Clearly I'm not incompetent, you hired me remember? And it's Emma. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Emma turned to leave and then thought of something else, "And while we're on the subject, Madam Mayor, what about the streetlights on Main? I turned that report into you a couple of days go. It's pitch black at night and that isn't safe for anyone. So why don't you do your job and take care of that and let me take care of this?"
With a huff of indignation Emma turned and started toward the Main street confusion.
The Mayor bristled for a minute considering firing the blonde's ass for insubordination but instead she turned and headed back to her car.
"Come on, mom. She doesn't know anyone here." Henry begged after school as Regina shuffled through the stacks of paper looking for the report The Sheriff had filed about the streetlights. "You have to let her have dinner with us tonight. Come on mom, please?" Henry's eyes widened into hazel globes of pity as he begged, his bottom lip jutting out in a pout. "She doesn't have any friends!"
"Henry, Sheriff Swan's lack of friends is, I can only assume, entirely her own fault and none of our concern."
"Please? She has to be lonely! Pllllease?"
She sighed heavily. The last thing she wanted to do was have dinner with the oh-so-irritating Sheriff Swan – Emma – Ms. Swan - but how could she say no to that face. "Fine." She gave in, her lips curling into a snarl of a smile. "Just tonight."
"Are you really telling me what to order now too, Regina?" Emma's eyes were wide and smug over the top of her menu that night. Henry sat flicking through a storybook in his lap blissfully ignoring yet another spat stirring up in front of him. They were grown-ups. They could figure it out.
With a slow methodical dignity, Regina closed her menu and intertwined her fingers, "You're right. The fact that you wish to fill your body with high fructose corn syrup, a disgusting amount of sodium and dozens of unnamable chemicals is absolutely none of my business."
"You got that right." Emma said with a mocking wink.
Did she just wink at her? The audacity of this woman!
"However the fact that you can not grasp that I am above your station and that you work for me - and should, therefore, stick to my official moniker is nothing less than concerning. How can I trust you with my child, whom I keep managing to find you with, much less the safety of this town which even that is difficult for you?" Regina felt a ripple of disdain tint the back of her tongue. Had she not earned respect? Was this woman not her subordinate? Why was she so irritating? Why was she refusing to stay in the box she was given? Why was that little smile on her face so cute?
Emma shrugged the smile in the corner of her lips still lingering, "Whatever you say."
The leggy brunette approached the table with a fond smile for the new sheriff, filling Regina with a flash of annoyance. Did everyone love this woman?
"I will have the cheeseburger and fries, extra ketchup please and Madam Mayor will have - " Emma looked at her expectantly, eyes shining and Regina could see the teenage troublemaker still lurking there.
Regina rolled her eyes and rattled off her own meal and well as Henry's.
"Thanks, Ruby." The sheriff smiled warmly and reached for Regina's menu. Not paying attention, Emma's fingertips accidentally brushed The Mayors. Both women jumped, yelping at the electric shock that stung their skin with an audible and visual zip.
Sucking on the hurt spot on her finger Regina glared at the woman across from her.
Much to her displeasure she opened the door the next morning to Emma's crisp smiling face.
"Morning." Emma said handing her to go a cup of Granny's coffee and brushing by her and into the house.
"Oh, why don't you come in, Ms. Swan." Regina gripped but then held up a palm, cutting Emma off before she began, "Emma."
Emma cocked an eyebrow.
"I see you're taking my son to school again today. May I ask if you will be driving because I would prefer - "
"It's so nice out I thought we would walk." She did a double take at Regina's silence, a thought clearly crossing her mind, "Hey, I guess it's been rude of me not to ask you if it was alright for Henry to spend time with me. It's just for his project, I swear."
Regina felt her lips pinch but swallowed the nasty thing she wanted to say, "I understand."
"Okay, good. I like the kid."
Regina's lip twitched, a smile asking to be shared in response to Emma's own.
They stood in silence for a moment before Emma spoke again, "Actually hey, I was thinking, I would like to take him to the park this afternoon. Would that be - okay with you?"
"What happened to it being only for the project?" Regina scoffed.
Emma shrugged and vulnerability fluttered across her eyes, "He makes me feel less lonely."
